Last Thursday, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino publicly announced emergency preparedness funding for 22 local community health centers at a press conference held at Brookside Community Health Center (BCHC).

BCHC and Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center (SJPHC), two of BWH’s community health centers, were among the 22 applicants, who will each receive $10,000 to be used by June to support community-based disaster planning efforts.

“Community health centers serve as an important link to neighborhood residents, especially when disasters—natural or man-made—occur. These funds are vital to ensure the safety of our residents. The City of Boston will continue to work with local community health centers, like Brookside, to help ensure services are available to help educate patients about emergency preparedness,” said Menino.

The funds are a portion of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Bio-terrorism Preparedness and other Public Health Emergency funding. The CDC granted the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) approximately $20 million—$2.3 million of which was granted to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The BPHC, in turn, distributed an initial $280,000 to 21 community health centers, including BCHC and SJPHC. Last week’s announcement represents a second round of community health center funding.

John Auerbach, executive director of the BPHC, and Suzanne Condon, director of DPH’s Center for Emergency Preparedness, also attended last Thursday’s press conference, along with two members of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and representatives from each of the 22 health centers that were named as funding recipients.

BCHC Executive Director Paula McNichols closed the press conference, thanking the BPHC, DPH and Mayor Menino for their continued support of local community health centers. “Health centers like ours often serve as the infrastructure and support of the community,” said McNichols. “This funding will not only help increase awareness among our staff and patients, but also among our community partners, enabling us all to act responsibly in the event of an emergency.”